Introduction

The Virtual Policy Network (tVPN) established a Dynamic Coalition on Convergent Media (CM).

Background

- For background on Dynamic Coalitions see here: tVPN DC Page
- For background on Internet Governance Generally see: here: tVPN Internet Governance Timeline
- For the IGF see here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/
- For existing Dynamic Coalitions see here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/index.php/dynamiccoalitions

The term Convergent Media (CM) is inspired by Henry Jenkins’s work at MIT on ‘Convergence Culture’, it refers to digital media that bring together two or more traditional media forms such as text, video, voice, etc. In particular CM denotes online sites and practices where media-blending is essential to their form e.g. social networking sites, online games and virtual worlds.

Convergent Media pose a challenge to policy makers as they are sites which force an overlap of traditional media boundaries and consequently policy / legal / regulatory boundaries e.g. where audio-visual, telecommunications, consumer, intellectual property and tax regulations may all apply equally to an online artifact and / or practice.

What’s more specific instances of convergent media are constantly being created and modified – however policy debates often lag behind technological change bringing a danger of missing opportunities, dangers and possibility of causing inadvertent harm to development and innovation.

Aims

The Dynamic Coalition on Convergent Media (CM) will promote the visibility of CM in Internet governance discourse and will facilitate interaction between relevant bodies in order that policy making supports the social benefits of convergent media.

The coalition will promote the inclusion of CM in policy debates both to understand the benefits and challenges of convergent media itself and to illuminate policy gaps and overlaps that have emerged as digital media have blurred traditional media and technology boundaries.

The coalition will seek to use and promote the use of emerging technologies in policy and governance processes e.g. virtual meetings to increase efficiency and reduce carbon footprint of the DC.

The DC will conduct research and input on the main topics of IGF debates and will work closely with other DC’s.

Members

Membership is open to all interested parties. For details email ren AT virtualpolicy DOT net

Chair
- Ren Reynolds


Secretariat
- W Despain

Partners
Organizations and Institutions, Current coalition partners include individual representatives and affiliates representing the following organizations and institutions:

- Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (UK)
- Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association / UK Interactive Entertainment Association
- Feeding Edge
- Rivers Run Red
- the Virtual Policy Network

Individuals

- Dr B. Bakioglu
- Patrice Chazerand
- Ian Hughes - MD, Feeding Edge
- Melissa De Zwart - Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia & Classification Review Board Member (Australia)

Official Web site

coming soon

Mailing List

coming soon

Contacts

ren AT virtualpolicy DOT net

Reports

A report of DC activities has been compiled for the 2010 IGF.

Working Documents:
- Virtual World Policy Highlights: Mapping Virtual World policy issues against each of the key IGF policy headings.
- Social Network Policy Highlights: Mapping Social Network policy issues against each of the key IGF policy headings.
- Augmented Reality Policy Highlights: Mapping Augmented Reality policy issues against each of the key IGF policy headings.
- Transmedia Policy Highlights: Mapping Transmedia policy issues against each of the key IGF policy headings.